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Saturday, January 01, 2011

Keerimalai ~ A Land of Sacred Springs and Spirituality

"Keerimalai" springs is reputed for its curative properties

“Keerimalai” natural springs is known for its water and rituals. The water with mineral contents has curative value. Hindus believe the water here has miraculous powers to cure many diseases. According to many legends, the sage “Nagula Muni” was born with mongoose face andmeditated in a cave in “Keerimalai”. He bathed in “Keerimalai” springs and his mongoose face turned into a human face. "Keerimalai" was known as Thiruthambaleswaram.

“Keerimalai” is 50 feet above the main sea level, and situated West of Palaly. The fresh water comes from an underground fresh water spring. Hindus flock in large numbers on “Aadi Amaavaasai” day which falls during the Tamil month of “Aadi”, to carry out rituals for their forefathers and take a divine dip in the natural springs. These rituals are usually carried out by men. “Keerimalai” is famous for “Aadi Amaavaasai” and continues to be the foremost place.

“Nagulaambigai Sametha Sri naguleswara Perumaan” temple (commonly known as “Naguleswaram”temple)spreads to 50,000 square feet. “Naguleswaram” temple is one of the hallowed Sivan temples (Pancha Ishwaram) in Sri Lanka is situated here as well. Lord Siva is the destroyer or transformer. He is viewed as the supreme deity in Hinduism. There are five famous Ishwaram~ Sivan temples in Sri Lanka. They are Thirukoneswaram in trincomalee, Thiruketheeswaram in Mannar, Naguleswaram in Jaffna, Munneswaram in Chilaw and Kokkattichcholai Thaanthondreeswaram in Batticaloa.

Naguleswaram temple stands supreme in Jaffna Peninsula, North of Sri Lanka. It is endowed with special three attributes such asMoorthy (deity), Thalam (temple) and Theerththam (water).

The old “Naguleswaram” temple was destroyed by the Portugese in 1621. A Brahmin priest, who fled the area during the Portugese regime, took the valuables from the temple, put and preserved them in a well according to Yaazhpaana Vaipava Maalai.

In 1878, Hindu reformer Sreelasri Aarumuga Naavalar campaigned to rebuild the temple. After 17 years, the consecration ceremony took place at “Naguleswaram”. But, due to an accidental fire in 1918, the temple was severely damaged. The current temple is being renovated, and nearly 70% of the construction work is completed so far.

Sculptures are being made at the main entrance of the templeMain entrance of the templeThe Chief priest of Nagulaambigai Sametha Sri Naguleswara Perumaan temple (commonly known as Naguleswaram temple) Kumaraswamy Naguleswara Kurukkal (85). He has been the integral part of the temple from 1947 at the age of 22, and has served here for more than six decades with great dedication and devotion with a smiling face always

The natural springs was renovated in 1969Directions given in all three languages ~ Tamil, Sinhala and EnglishWay to the natural springsDestroyed building in the vicinityRuins buried in shrubs

View of the St.Anne’s Church in Valikandal from the natural springs

"Keerimalai" natural springsSea view from the springsAnother notice for the devotees in Tamil, Sinhala and English

St.Anne’s Church in Valikandal is standing still with partial damage

An array of Palmyrah trees which withstood the warBathing side for the men devoteesView of the Palk Strait from "Keerimalai""Do Not Urinate here" says a notice in Tamil and SinhalaMargosa leaves dance for the non~stop sea breezeGraffiti on th wall by the visitorsBathing side for the women devoteesTender Palmyrah Palm at the siteHall for the devotees to carry out the rituals for their forefathers on Aadi Amaavaasai dayYet another view of remaining ruinsView of ruins from the roadShrubs cover the ruinsOn the road of the ruinsAn overview of the templeAnother view of the ruined buildingThe sanctum has the largest Sivalingam in Sri LankaBeautiful sculptures of male and female Mongoose worshipping the Lord SivalingamSasaralingam ~ It has 1,000 SivalingamsSculptures on a ruined buildingAn array of Bronze statuesDevotees at the main entrance of the templeInside view of the MandapamAnother view of the temple from insideRemaining ruins of the archwayStray dogs in the vicinityOld statues of male and female version of the Mongoose"Please Do Not Enter with Footwear. Smoking is Strictly Prohibited" written on the pillar inside the MandapamEntrance of the Mandapam where Anna Thaanam takes placeAustin Cambridge in "Keerimalai"

The temple is referenced in many Indian religious treatises such as Dhakshina Kailaasa Puraanam and Kantha Puraanam

Another view from inside the templeCool spot to quench thirstView of Naguleswaram temple as the Sun setsSunset in "Keerimalai"

About Me

DushiYanthini Kanagasabapathipillai is a multiple awards winning journalist cum photojournalist, and has been working as a journalist for the past 20 years in Sri Lanka.She has traveled extensively for news coverage, feature and documentary making locally and globally. She has covered the three decade long war in Sri Lanka, while taking enormous amount of risks.She is pleased and proud to note that, SHE is the first Tamil woman journalist in Sri Lanka to travel on her own to the war zone, etc to capture the moments in her camera.
She trains budding journalists and youth in photojournalism and mid career journalists in various themes. Many of her creative photos have appeared on newspapers, journals, books and websites locally and internationally.
She shares her experience as a journalist.She is very passionate about what she does-Journalism :-), which is an adventure.
Contact Email :~
dushi.pillai@gmail.com, or dushiyanthini.pillai@gmail.com